The Union tourism ministry has appointed the chairmen of the five ports of Kochi, Chennai, Mumbai, Mangalore and Mormugao to be the promoters of cruise tourism in India. And the recent meeting on Cruise Tourism, held in Goa which concluded yesterday, was a great success.
The main items on the agenda were to discuss strategies to attract cruise ships from round the world to India and also to create/ repair cruise terminals in India’s leading ports. Several cruise travel operators, custom officers, immigration officers, state tourism department representative and central industrial security forces (CISF) attended the meeting.
Goa’s new cruise terminal at the Mormugao harbour for big vessels will be ready soon, and then it can handle large cruise ships and will be able to accommodate travellers well, too, the authorities promised. More than one lakh cruise travellers will be visiting Goa once the dedicated cruise terminal is ready. Plus, the state hopes to increase its tourist inflow by another four million in the coming five years.
At the first Goa Investment Forum 2012 held in Panaji, the chief minister said the state will create entertainment facilities and fix its infrastructure in the tourist belt so that more tourists can be facilitated. The upcoming cruise terminal will be a boost for the same.